Issue 9

This article contains information about a major update to City of Heroes Freedom. It is provided for historical purposes.

Overview

Issue 9, titled Breakthrough, was a major revision to City of Heroes and City of Villains released on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. The title is said to refer to invention "Breakthroughs", Hami breaking through into a new villain zone, and the heroes breaking through into the Rogue Isles via the new Statesman's Task Force.

This article summarizes some of the major features in Issue 9. For more complete details, see the release date's patch notes.

• Closed Beta testing on the Training Room for Issue 9 started on March 6, 2007. This was the first time a closed beta was used.
• On April 3, 2007, the Training Room was opened up for Issue 9 Open Beta.
• Issue 9 was released to the Live Servers on May 1, 2007.

Major Features

Statesman's Task Force

Statesman's Task Force was introduced as an alternate method for heroes to get Hamidon Origin Enhancements, making it the blue-side equivalent of the Lord Recluse Strike Force.

New Hamidon Encounter

A new zone named The Abyss was introduced that gives villains a chance to battle the Hamidon.

The Hamidon encounter itself was overhauled, requiring new tactics for Hami Raids. According to Positron, these changes were make to result in "Smaller raids, better tactics, and less potential for griefing". To prevent farming (due to the smaller team size needed), rewards from the raid are limited to once per 24 hour period. Defeating Hami also now results in a reward selection dialog, with a Rare Recipe as an alternative to the HO.

Invention System

The Invention System was introduced, allowing players to craft enhancements, costume pieces, and temporary powers using salvage and recipes found while on patrol. It has also been stated that the long-rumored "Legacy System", which would have allowed for additional improvements of level 50 characters, was wrapped into the Invention System. [1]

Auction Houses

Auction Houses were introduced to allow heroes and villains to buy and sell tradeable items. Heroes can visit Wentworth's Fine Consignments while villains can take advantage of the Black Market.

Quality of Life Improvements

• The influence/infamy transfer amount was raised from its previous cap of 99,999.

• Additional tram stops were added to the Green Line in Skyway City and Founders' Falls.

• Enhancement stores were added in Kings Row.

• The alternate flight poses were returned as a series of emotes that can only be used while flying.

• Enhancements were given detailed story-driven descriptions, For example, the Magic Origin SO for Hold Duration was given a description where Hermes forces the target to "mentally fold a road map correctly." Other enhancements have been given similar descriptions.

• A new Hero Trainer, Castle, has been added to Peregrine Island.

Badges

Main Article: Issue 9 Badges

Issue 9 added a total of 74 badges: 72 badges for heroes, 70 Badges for villains. (This does not count the 8 Veteran Reward Badges). Most are earned by crafting under the Invention System. The rest are earned by selling at consignment houses and by participating in the Statesman Task Force.

External Links

• Official Feature Overview
• Invention System Overview
• Dev Diary: Inventing Wings
• Dev Diary: Redesigning the "Hamidon"
• Dev Diary: Statesman's Task Force